Gianluigi Buffon, the former Italy goalkeeper, has extended his contract with Parma until 2024, making him 46 years old when it ends.
Last summer, the 44-year-old World Cup winner returned to the Serie B club on a two-year agreement.
Gianluigi Buffon has a record 657 games in the Italian top division, having won 10 Serie A titles with Juventus.
“This is a beautiful day for my family and me. “I wish the city and all of the fans happiness,” Buffon remarked.
Buffon, who made his Serie A debut in November 1995 for Parma, has appeared in 23 league games for the club this season, which is currently 13th in the 20-team Serie B after 26 games.
“My return to Parma was linked to the ties and strong bond I have always had with this city,” said Buffon, who confirmed the new deal alongside club president Kyle Krause at a press conference on Monday.
“I would not have accepted this idea if I didn’t believe in what the president wants and what we’re doing.”
“I am hopeful about this club’s future.” For me, it’s a lovely and interesting challenge.”
‘I’d prefer to play in Mexico or the United States, but if I had the Champions League, I’d have already stopped,’ the Parma goalkeeper told TUDN.
‘I’d prefer to play in Mexico or the United States,’ he continued.
‘These are things I’d like to do, but we’ll see how things go.’ If you ask me what I want to do in the future, the truth is that I haven’t decided whether I want to be a manager or a coach yet. Knowing myself, all I want to do now is keep getting better.
‘My competitive spirit is kept alive by not winning the Champions League.’ If I had won the Champions League, I might have already retired because there would be no more essential goals to achieve.’
Despite not having played for Italy since 2018, Buffon is eyeing a return to the national squad.
‘If Italy does not qualify for the World Cup, I may play the future ones,’ he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
‘I wouldn’t be surprised if I was still in shape at 48.’ I understand why Michael Jordan didn’t rule out playing until he was 50 years old. We do the talking on the pitch at the end of the day.’
After failing to win their qualifying group, Roberto Mancini’s side faces the difficult task of qualifying for the Qatar World Cup.
If the defending European champions are to avoid the disappointment of failing to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup, they must defeat North Macedonia, Portugal, or Turkey.
